I remember a Top Gear episode when they still had that bloke on that talked about getting car bargains (later replaced by James May). He, if I remember correctly, said that towards the end of the year, with new models on the way and under pressure to meet all the annual targets, dealerships are willing to make really good deals on existing stock. Surely this must be the same for bike dealers. Anyone know? Thanks.
Traditionally the end of summer is a good time to get bargains, but that does assume there is a summer in the first place…
Old models out, the sun bunnies tuck their shiny babies away, usually Autumn is about right… if you want a real bargain… November or January… traditionally the worst period for bike sales. November cos the weathers’ started getting REALLY bad and salesmen want to beef sales up before Christmas to get a nice bonus, and January, cos NO ONE BUYS anything after Christmas so salesman will practically hand you a bike compared to their normal hard bargaining selves…
Least, that’s my experience anyway…
From what I’ve read, the Buell 1125R will be cheap as chips soon - they’ve been flying out of the door like a bogie stuck under the table.
I don’t think it makes a huge difference anymore.
I was looking at buying a new bike in December last year and when I spoke to a couple of Triumph and Honda dealers they offered me pretty poor deals on new bikes. In the case of one of the Triumph dealers the part exchange they offered was that bad that I laughed out loud at the salesman. The other dealers were wanting full price for the bikes despite me deciding to sell my current bike privately!
It’s always going to be about what your looking to buy as much as anything.
The Buell 1125R is a good example. It aint shifting so they want to shift the ones they have and will go down to cost to do that. If you want a bike no one else does, your in clover
If it’s a steady seller, tough. If it’s this years “must have” tougher still.
Then there’s geography. The best deals always seem to be in Doncater or Widness and such like.
I’m sure the bargains are out there, it’s down to what you want and how much your prepared to travel.
That was Quentin Wilson - I wonder where he ended up?
5th Gear on Channel 5 but haven’t seen him on there lately
Re Quentin Wilson. The guy’s a multi millionaire so who needs to work?
Re cheap bikes. See “Ride” magazine, October edition, pp 128 and 144/145.
Looks like the best price deals are secondhand big bikes (wait for the new ones to follow suit) and the best discounts are low cost finance deals.
Got to say a new KTM for 10% down and 1% for 1 year (2% for 2, 3% for 3) sounds pretty damned good.
Kawasaki still have their £0 down, 0% finance for 3 years deal going on the ZX6R and ZX10R.
The deals are, or soon will be, out there this year.
I agree with oldguy. It’s not just the bike price that makes a deal.
If you can get 0% it’s better than using your own money.
I’ve seen Quentin Wilson on a couple of Life Insurance and home loan adds. He must have the same agent as Carol Vorderman.
**Ducati Pete/b]
*I agree with oldguy. It’s not just the bike price that makes a deal.
If you can get 0% it’s better than using your own money.
*
Spot on. It’s the whole packeage. Il Bandito got his bike a couple of years back for £4,000, near list, on 0% finance x 2 years (£500 saved) and with 1 years free insurance. (£1,500 saved)
£4K bike for £2K? Don’t sound bad to me.
Now is a good time to buy!
With the 58 numbers out a few weeks ago there are a few dealers with pre-registered 08 bikes willing to cut a deal to shift “old stock”.
Of course, if you must have a 2009 bike with the latest number then you are not going to get such a good bargain.
Infinity are doing good financing deals at the moment.
I see Suzuki are offering 0% over 42 months on their gsxr-1000’s with just £1 deposit.
Yamaha over practically all of their range with a £500 deposit down.
Kawasaki doing the least so far.
Honda are doing 0% over 42 months for their new blades too.
Competition will be fierce! If only I had a garage!!! (nw2 zone 2 London, no garage = no new bike tpft!!!)
The more you start looking for deals, the more you find. I think this year is going to be a good deals year, if you have a good credit rating and decently “secure” job, if you look at whole packages rather than simple discount prices.
Downside? I’ve just realised I could have bought much better this autumn than I did in April, 2007. Bu**er.
Wait until just before Christmas . . . bit heartless but at that time of year some people are desperate for cash, eBay has a burst of cheap bikes and the offers people will accept are brilliant, especially for tatty non-runners or MoT failures. If they spent a few quid and washed it they could double their sale price but some people are not bothered . . . if you have the cash then you can get a cracking bike or car at that time for significantly less than you will a few months later.
Sh*t.
I started posting to help someone. Now I fancy a new bike at a bargain price.
Must find that KTM deal again.
Just wanted to say thanks for the advice here. I’ve been impetuous in the past, seen a bike, wanted it, bought it. This time around I can be more selective and get a better deal.